Read on Twitter
This tweet has provoked this longish thread, so bear with me. This discussion is long overdue.
#SuicidePrevention is the collective responsibility of parents, educational institutions and society as a whole. Yet we all have been failing our children time after time. + https://twitter.com/AdvGauravKumar/status/1194309531158712320
#SuicidePrevention is the collective responsibility of parents, educational institutions and society as a whole. Yet we all have been failing our children time after time. + https://twitter.com/AdvGauravKumar/status/1194309531158712320
These young adults are probably driven to take their lives when they see no way out of the misery their lives gave become. Only if they had an outlet - someone to talk to, someone who would understand and be non-judgmental. Parents, teachers, friends, professional counsellors. +
Yet why do these young adults reach that stage when their lives become pressure cookers without a whistle or safety valve? Parents, educational institutions and society need to respond to this. Getting into a prestigious institution is made a goal for the child rather than +
being just a means to achieve their larger purpose in life. Recently I asked a friend's son, who got into IIT this year, what branch he wanted and what he wanted to do later. He said, "Aunty, I don't know. Everyone wanted me to be in IIT so here I am".
And he is not alone. +
And he is not alone. +
Another friend was lamenting that her 12-yr-old daughter has not yet decided whether she wanted to do medicine or engg. I reminded her she's only 12! My friend reminded me her son started IIT prep when he was 12! And many schools and coaching centres run classes from grade 5! +
When parents reward good marks with treats and parties, even if they say "It's ok" when the child scores poorly, they are not being supportive even if they think they are. They have clearly set a value on the desiribility if good marks. If only marks were non-relevant to a +
child's sense of self-worth! As I tell my kids - "Your marks are what you knew on that test on thst particular day. Theu are not the limits of ypur knowledge, or what you are, or what you can be!"
And I am an ordinary person with no legacy to leave my kids. +
And I am an ordinary person with no legacy to leave my kids. +
Educational institutions and society has to wake up to the reality of mental distress. The whole mentally strong/weak theory has to be obliterated. Mental distress is real. Mental disorders are also real. It's high we recognise this. +
All this can happen only when we as a society OPEN UP. Recognise that mental well-being is more important than success or recognition. There is nothing 'weak' about letting go of what doesn't work for someone.
#MentalHealth
#SuicidePrevention
#ItsOkNotToBeOk
#MentalHealth
#SuicidePrevention
#ItsOkNotToBeOk
Pls excuse the typos and grammar. Wrote in a moving vehicle 
